Bicycle-saddle



(No Model.)

T. Ir KIRKPATRICK. BICYCLE SADDLE.

N 278,560. Patented May 29,1883.

n. PETERS. mwum ner, Washington. ac.

in Bicycle-Saddles, which the followingis H to rious reasons as near the head of the machine safety, while retaining perfect freedom of mo- 2 and suspending the top sheet of the saddle beh 6 Figure 1 represents a top plan view of my monly denominated the headfof the ma- 0 G representsmyimproved saddle. It is atofthe head a greater or less distance, as fancy The tree or frame of the saddle ismade of PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS JEFFERSON KIRKPATRICK, OF SPRINGFIELD, OHIO.

BIQYCLE- sAooLEQ SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 278,560, dated May29, 1883..

- I Application filed February 28. 1883. (No model.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that'I, T. J. KIRKPATRICK, of Springfield, in the county of Clarke and State of Ohio, have in vented certain Improvements a. specification.

To those familiar with the subject it is well known that in the use of the ordinary bicycle it is the aim of all expert riders to sit for vaand as nearlyove'r the. center of the main wheel as possible. In so doing great annoyance and danger are experienced because of the hard and unyielding character of the saddles at their 15 forward ends or necks.

It is the aim of my invention to produce a saddle which will possess a high degree pt elasticity in its neck, so that the operator may ride well forward thereon with comfort and.

tionon the part of his legs.

To this end it consists in a saddle having its forward end or neck forked, so as to embracehor pass around the head of the machine,

tween two elevated points, one of which is forward of the point at which the weight is received thereon; also, in a peculiar arrangement of the springs, and in other details saddle in position on a machine.

side elevation of the same.

A represents the upper end of the swiveling fork, in which the wheel is. mounted, com- Fig. 2 is a chine; and B, the-spring, to which the saddle is attached, said parts and others represented, with the exception of the-saddle, being of ordinary form and arrangement.

tached tothe spring, as usual, and is made at therear end of substantially the usual form, but at the upward end is forked or divided in such manner as to pass forward on both sides may dictate. This forward end of the saddle may be rendered soft and elastic in various ways, thepreferred plan being represented in the drawings.

" essentially the same outline as the top, with the tree by rivets or. otherwise, but has its two arms or ends at the front passed. over and inward under the rollers 01 and connected to spiral springs e, secured to the tree. In this manner the seat is suspended, so that it may sink withfreedom at all points between its ends. Thus constructed it affords immediately in rear and at the sides of the head the same softness and elasticity as at other points. It is preferred to apply a compressing strain to the springs by passing rods through the same, as shown. The rod g, to which the strap is attached, engages with the rear end of the -5 spring, while the retaining-rod 10 passes from the front end of thespring to the hook t on the tree.

In place of the spring-connection shownjthe saddle may be upholstered or padded, or may have a sack filled with air inserted. between i the tree and the seat. Generally the details may be modified as desired, provided the forked forward end is retained, in combination with the seat or cushion, applied in such man- So ner as to afford elasticity immediately adjacent to the head of the machine. While designed more particularly for bicycles, the saddle is also applicable to tricycles and other vehicles.

1 am aware that a seat-supporting spring 8 has been perforated at its forward end and extended around the head of the machine, and this .I do not claim. A clear distinction is to be drawn between an extended spring which I gives support to the seat as a whole, and a forwardly-extended saddle, the upper surface of which is adapted to conform to the person of the occupant immediately adjacent to the head ofthe machine, the elasticity of the spring sustaining the seat, and the elasticity of the 5 seat proper differing in their effects and results from each other. i

The present invention is restricted to those matters and things which are hereinafter claimed, and as to all matters which may be described or shown, but which-are not claimed, the right is reserved to make the same the subject of a separate patent.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. In a saddle for bicycles and similar vehicles, a saddle-frame having its forward end or neck forked or divided, as shown, in. combination with a seat suspended at the forward and rear ends of said frame, substantially as described, whereby an elastic suspension-surface is afforded immediately adjacent to the head of the machine.

2; The combination of the saddle tree or frame having the upturned rear end, the forked or divided and upturned forward end,

and the seat E,of corresponding form, sus= pended at its ends upon said frame, as de 

